Serious Science, Ridiculous Fun. How Improv Rewires Stress and Elevates Coaching Conversations

Description:

Let’s be honest—most professionals don’t rise to the occasion under pressure…They default to whatever their nervous system can handle in the moment. And for many smart, well-trained leaders, coaches, and HR pros, that looks like overthinking, over-talking, or freezing entirely. This session is your interruption.

In this fast-paced, highly interactive experience, Sonya Calooy introduces Improv for Better Coaching™— a brain-based approach that uses improv techniques to help you regulate stress in real time, stay present, and respond with clarity instead of panic. No scripts. No slides to hide behind. Just practical tools that work when conversations get messy (because they always do).

At the core of the experience is the LAUGHS Method™, part of Sonya’s broader CALM Journey™ framework—a practical system for moving from reactivity to clarity under pressure. In this session, you’ll focus on the in-the-moment skills that help you regulate, reset, and respond when it counts.

This work is also the foundation of her upcoming book, Panic Is Not a Leadership Strategy: Break the Stress Cycle Before It Breaks You, which introduces the full CALM Journey™—from building awareness and alignment to sustaining long-term change.

This isn’t about being funny. It’s about being effective when things don’t go according to plan.

Tentative Agenda:

6:00-6:30 networking 
6:30 -8:00 speaker
8:00-8:30 networking

Session Outcomes: 

In 90 minutes, you’ll:

• Learn how to regulate your stress response on the spot (no meditation cushion required)
• Strengthen presence and active listening—even with challenging personalities
• Handle curveballs without mentally buffering like a bad Wi-Fi connection
• Build trust faster by showing up as a human, not a script

You will laugh. You might get a little uncomfortable. And you’ll leave with tools you can use immediately—because insight is nice, but behavior change is better.

CCEUs:

1.5 Core Competencies

1 Resource Development 

Location: 

Education Service Center- Region 20.

1314 Hines Ave, San Antonio, TX 78208

Maples Conference Center- Bexar Room, 1st Floor

Fees:

ICF-SA Members / Associates: $25

SHRM Members: $25

ATD Members: $25

ACMP Members: $25

ICF-SA Affiliates / Guests: $35

Speaker: Sonya Calooy

Questions?

Contact us at virtualassistant@icfsa.org for support